Strip-cutting machine



' H. DENMIRE STRIP C JUTTING MACHINE Feb, 4, 1930.

Fil ly '22, 1927 '2 Shets-Shee-L 1 INVENTOR liamvl/d A .Denmitw BY 6 & We

ATTORNEYS Feb. 4; 1930. I D N I 1,745,985

STRIP CUTTING MACHINE Filed July 22, 1927 2 s s 2 4.5 i 6 F1 E. F1 9 5 .INVENTOR Harpld A.Dhmir BY W &

ATTORNEYS Patent ed Feh. 4; 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFrce HAROLD A. DENMIRE, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASS IGNOR TO THE GENERAL TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO s'rnrr-ourrrnc MACHINE This invention relates to an improved ma-- chine for severing predetermined lengths of strip material from a continuously moving strip of such material.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a machinefor cutting predetermined lengths of strip material suitable for use in conjunction with a fabricating machine of the character set forth in my copending application Serial No. 148,702'filed November A further object of the invention is to provide an improved control mechanism that is readily adjustable over a great range of movement to sever strips of, differing lengths from the strip material supplied thereto. u A further objectofthe inventionis to provide an improved'form of electrical control switch that positively creates a circuit for a very short interval of time and that is so constructed as to preclude the establishment of a prolonged flow of current through the control circuit in the event the machine becomes locked or the switch arm stuckfrom any reason whatsoever.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an electrical control switch in which the control arm must pass through a complete cycle of movement each time that the 30. electrical circuit is established.

These and other objects of the invention willbe apparent from a consideration of the accompanying specification taken in con unction'with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention showing a portion of the conveyor belt and the strip of material carried thereby cut away to better illustrate the details of construction of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially on lines 3-3 of Fig. 1

, looking in the direction of the arrows.

- Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the switch mechanism diagrammatically showing the associated control circuit and control mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a corresponding side elevational view of the control switch taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 6 {and I Fig. 6'is a corresponding end elevational view of the switch mechanism shown in Fig. 5.

The machine particularly shown as a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a conveyor belt that is adapted to continuously carry forward a strip of material that is supplied to the machine from any desired source. A suitable contact mechanism that is controlled by the leading edge of the strip material serves to operate ashear mechanism for severing predetermined lengths of material from the strip material that is fed to the machine. The contact mechanism is shown mounted on the frame ofthe machine so as to be readily adjustable for cutting different predetermined lengths ofstrip material by the operation of the machine.

More particularly, the machine comprises a frame 1 that operatively supports a pair of endless conveyor belts 2 and 3 on suitable pulleys 4 and 5 that are respectively journaled in the frame. The spaced conveyor bolts 2 and 3 are driven at any desired speed by any suitable driving pulley 6. The pulleys at and 5 are rotatably supported in the machine frame in any suitable manner. i

The forward endof the-machine has mounted thereon an inclined fe'ed table 7 that has a series of idler rolls 8 freely mounted ina pair of side members 9 for reducing the fries tional resistance to movement of the strip material 10 through the machine. The shear mechanism has a cutter bar 11 that recipro cates in suitable opposed guides 12 that are arranged at opposite ends of the'blade and are carried by the frame. The cutter bar 11 is reciprocated by a connecting rod 13 that is controlled from a suitable eccentric that is mounted on a transverse shaft 14. A continuously driven fly wheel 15 is rotatably carried by the shaft 14 and operatively connected thereto by means of a clutch mechanism 16 that is controlled from a suitable electro-magnet member 17.

The control magnet 17 is connected to a switch mechanism 18' that is suitably sup- 160 portednfroma cross frame 19 that slidably engages the side trackways 20 of the main frame of the machine. One of the trackways of the machine is suitably indexed as at 21 for the more convenient measurement of the length of the strip material through the use of an indexing pointer 22'. ,A suitable handle23servesto' move the frame 19 together with the switch mechanism 18 longitudinally along the'trackways. The body portion of the switch mechanism is preferably carried intermediate the conveyor belts and the control arm 24 of the switchmechanism' protrudes from between the two conveyor belts to operatively engage the advancing end of the strip material 10 as it is carried along by the conveyor belts.

The structure of the switch 18 is illustrated in detail in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 and comprises in general a control arm 24 that is pivotally mounted on a. suitable transverse shaft 25.

A suitable stop 26 defines the forward or en-- gaging position of the control arm. The lower end of the control arm carries an operating link 27 that is pivotally connected thereto and that has a suitable contact member 23 carried at its free end by means of a resilient connecting member 29 thatalso serves as a conducting 'member for electrically connecting-the contact member 28 with a suitable control cable 30 that leads, as diagrammatically shown, to

one terminal of any suitable source of supply of electrical energy, such'as the line 3-1; v The contact member 28 is preferably insulated from the end of the operating link 27 by a suitable block of insulating material 32. A

pair'of opposed guide arms 33 that extend,

outwardly on each side of the free end portion of the link 27 are adapted to travel on a' i the frame of the electr o-magnet 37 serves'to control the clutch mechanism 16 through a connecting link 40 that is suitably connected to each member. I

Each of the opposed trackways 34 has a rigidly mounted-guide portion 41 that ter- 'm1nates at one end well short of a second rigid trackway portion .42, leaving an opening therebetweenthat permits the outwardly extending guide arms 33 to pass between the end of the trackways 41 and the trackway 42 upon return movement of the link 27.- Each trackway 34 also has a yielding or hinged sec.- tion 43 that is pivotally connected at its upper end to the stationary trackway 41 by a transversepintle 44 1n order that the weight of the track sections 43' will yieldingly hold the free end of theftrack' sections in contact with the operating surface, of the stationary track 42. The stationary trackway 42 is rigidly supported preferablyinan inclined position. A resilient'cushioning block 45 preferably made of rubber or other resilient material serves to cushionthe outer end of the arm 27 and the'contact member 28-as they descend by force of gravity totheir lowest position. A return spring 46 of any suitable character serves to hold the control arm 24 in its engaging position after each operation.

The outer cam portion. of the track 41 is preferably arranged concentric with the pivot center of the arm 27 at the time of release of the fingers '33 from the upper end of the pivoted portion 43 of the track. This assists in guiding the contact member 28 to positive engagement with her 35.

The general operation of the machine is substantially as follows. The strip material 10 is fed to the machine over the freely operating idler rolls 8 that. are arranged on an incline relative to the direction of mo cement of the shear knife 11 in order that the leading end" of the strip material 10 will be beveled or skived by the cutting operation. After the strip material 10 is severed by the operation of the shear, the leadingend moves between the cutting blade and the bed of the machine to engagement with the spaced conveyor belts 2 and 3 that carry it forwardly at. a predetermined rate of travel. After a suitable portion of the strip material has passed beneath the knife head, the leading end thereof engages the operating arm 24 of the-switch mechanism that extends upwardly between the conveyer belts 2 and 3. The continued movement of the strip material 10 carries with it the control arm'24 from its position shown in solid outline in Fig. 4 to the position 24 that is shown in dotted outline in this figure. In bringing the arm 24 to the position shown in dotted outline, the opposed arms 33 that are carried by the forward end ,of the link 27 travel upwardly on the inclined trackway 43 to the position 33 tion of the'track 41 as indicated by the arrow 47 of Fig. 5 which illustrates the contact carrying arm. in an intermediate moving position. During the falling movement of the outer end of the arm 27 the moving contact member 28 engages the stationary contact '35 and momentarily establishes a circuit from the source of supply 31 and 38 through the contact members 28 and 35 to the electro-magthe stationary contact-memnet winding 37. The magnetization of the winding 37 pulls the armature 39 to'the face of the magnet and thereby operates the link 40 to connect the moving 'fly wheel 15 with the operating shaft lt that carries the eccentric which in turn operates the cutter blade 11 to sever the strip material 10. The cutter blade then returns to its uppermost position. The momentary contact of the switch members is made only during the falling movement of the outer end of the arm 27 which insures that the circuit will not remain closed for a prolonged period of time regardless of whether or not the strip material holds the control arm 24 in any intermediate position and also independent of whether or not the length of material severed from the strip 10 is removed immediately from the conveyor belt. It will also be seen that imuiediatelyupon theremoval of the severed strip of material 10 from the conveyor belt,-

-will be released and the spring 46-will return the control arm to its operative position shoavn in solid lines in Fig. 4' of the drawings.

As the link 27 is returned to its initial position the arms 33 pass between the pivoted portions 43 of the inclined track and the faceof the trackway 42. Immediately after the arms 33 pass the free end of the pivoted track portions 43, these portions drop back into place and preclude the movement of the arms 33in any direction except up the inclined face 43. Furthermore, if for any reason whatsoever the pivoted track portions 43 do not drop back into engagement with the track 42, the switch cannot again operate because the contact carrying arm will not be brought to such position as to-enable the contact 28 to engage with stationary contact 35.

If it is desired at any time to change the v length of strip material that is being cut from the endless strip 10 by the machine, the entire switch carrying cross frame 19 is shifted longitudinally along the supporting tracks 20 to engage thc strip at such position as may he desired. The indicator 22 that is carried by the cross frame is so related to the graduations 21 that are formed on the main frame as to read directly in the length of the por-' tion of the strip 10 that is being severed from the main strip. This provides Sill (321511) adjusted control mechanism that mayconveniently be moved over a very wide range of adjustment to obtain any desired length of severed strip. i

The particular service to which this 1nv ention is preferably applied is in the severing of predetermined lengths of fabricated tread stock from a continuously moving strip of such stock that may be made up through the operation of the machine shown in my aforementioned application for Letters Patcnt.

As heretofore explained, in a switch mechanism for controlling the cutting of stock of this character it is primarily necessary to provide a mechanism that is simple in. construction and that is substantially fool-proof.

-the shear will neither remain in its down position nor be successively actuated to make unintentional cuts in the strip of material being fed to the machine. -It is believed that the simplified design of the switch mechanism is of considerable importance since the free dropping of the outer end of the arm 27 with its contact past the stationary contact 35 provides a very positive movement for the control mechanism.

Although I have illustrated a pivoted track section 43, it will be understood that any track section that permits the fingers 33' to be retrieved to their, initial position, whereupon the trackway will take its defined initial position with respect to the inclined trackway, till be equally serviceable. It should be understood that the embodiment of the invention herein described is for purposes of illustration and explanation of the principles of the invention, and that only such limitations should be placed thereon as are imposed bythe prior art.

What I claim is:

1. A stock feeding and cutting machine comprising a stock conveyor, a cutter normally supported clear of the stock; actuating means for moving the cutter into and out of engagement with the stock, electrically operated means for controllingsaid cutter actuating means, a control circuit for said electrically operated means, a switch unit mounted adjacent the conveyor and provided with a vmovable control arm normally pro1ecting 3 into the path of travel of the stock and adapted to be shifted away from normal position by the moving stock, means controlled by said arm in ,its movement away from normal engagement with the stock, electrically oper ated means for controlling said cutter actuating means, a control circuit for said electrically'operated means, a switch unit mount ed adjacent the conveyor and provided with a movable control arm normally projecting into the path oftravelof the stock and adapted to be shifted away from normal position "by the moving stock, said switch unit-being adjustable longitudinally of the conveyor,

means controlled by saidarm in-its movement away from normal position for momentarily closing and then opening-the control circuit to cau se a single impulse of'eurrentto pass therethrough to cause'an actuation of the cutter, and means for returning the control arm tonormal position'when the same is.disengaged from the stock-andformaintaining v said circuit open during the return of 'said arm.

In testimony'whereof I afiix my signature:

. HARQLDA. DENMIRE.' 

